Sunday stroll

Last Sunday I visited Sheringham Park for the second time in a week as we meet friend staying nearby before having lunch. Being overcast it was much quitter both in terms of birds and butterflies. But I did get some really nice views of a Firecrest by the main path. During the week I saw my dirt Orange tip of the year and a Red kite over while at dad's allotment.

Today being my only day off this week I planned to continue with making a playhouse for my daughter at home. We did make time for a short walk at Walcott where 2 Sandwich Tern and a Little Tern briefly alighted on the groyne before continuing West.  2 Meadow Pipit appeared to come in off the sea, a White Wagtail was nearby and offshore a Skua was mobbing 2 further Sandwich Tern but with only binoculars it was most like an Arctic Skua. The Kentish Plover would have been nice to see but being mid afternoon, Easter holidays and in Great Yarmouth I decided just to get the paint brush out! A good decision it turns out as the bird disappeared for a number of hours.

Mothering Sunday Weekend

On Saturday I met mum and dad for an early mothers day lunch in Bacton and then had a sunny jaunt along the river at Ebridge.  Not a lot was along the river but 2 Red Kite circled overhead with two Common Buzzard. My first Red Kite of the year. Numerous Chiffchaff called along with a vocal Yellowhammer.

On Sunday Laura, Agnes and I had a picnic in Sheringham Park, somewhere I haven't visited since a child. Near the information center I spotted a female Brambling the only bird of note. The common birds were numerous in their song and while atop the Gazebo watch tower a Nuthatch called within a few feet at eye level. But was too quick for a photo. I also saw my first butterflies of the year two Brimstone and a Small Tortoiseshell.

Moving onto Salthouse to feed the ducks I scanned the marshes for early migrants without luck but driving on towards Cley a Swallow was on the wires another first for the year.

Railway Woods Norwich

Walking to work via the River Wensum and Railway Woods proved very productive as well as a pleasant way to start the day. The wood was alive with bird song calling Chiffchaff, Wren, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Blackbird making up most of the chorus. I heard and finally saw a singing Willow Warbler,  most likely my earliest record and then also saw my first Blackcap of the year. But the strangest bird of all was a Red-legged Partridge sitting on the woodland path before flying over the river into the reclamation yard a very unexpected city bird. Between the sluice gates and anchor brewery bridge a pair of Kingfisher whizzed back and forth and at least 3 Grey Wagtail bobbed along the waters edge. I guess it's now time to start work.

Sunny Morning Patch

After having her breakfast Agnes and I went for our first ever patch walk together, with her on my back we saw quite a bit in just a short walk. We walked from home around the quiet lanes behind the house. By the railway paddock we saw 6 fieldfare, 2 mistle thrush and a song thrush. We also heard the first of at least 5 singing chiffchaff. Not far away I saw my first yellowhammer of the year, blasting out a tune atop a tree and a large flock of c.50 linnet. We didn't walk beyond the hump back bridge but from this view point we watched a otter in the river, the pair of little grebe that bred last year had returned, a pair of bullfinch were nice to see and I heard my first willow warbler of the year. Back at home 4 buzzard circled above the house before drifting West.

Posting again!

It's almost two years since my last post and I'm not quite sure I can place all the blame on my 16 month old daughter, but now she's old enough to join me hopefully I'll get out more. So let's start blogging again ready for the spring migration.

February has been quiet with a trip to Felbrigg with James my only trip out. All the normal species seen but nice too get out birding with an old friend. Over the last week I have tried to do a bit of pre work birding. Finally seeing my first barn owl of the year at Coltishall along with a little egret. Along the Wensum in the city centre I saw 3 Kingfisher and 2 Grey Wagtail on Friday. Yesterday I caught up with the Waxwing on Union Street and this morning detoured via the cathedral see the Peregrine on the spire.

February Update

With the days starting to lengthen I can once again look out for birds while travelling to work. On the 3^rd while walking along the River Wensum, I saw my first Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail of the year, and I have seen the wagtails several mornings since.
 By the 6^th Feb Gary and I had waited long enough and gave in to the callings of the Harlequin Duck in Aberdeen. Leaving North Walsham at Midnight we arrived at Seaton Park in Aberdeen around 9.15am after a short breakfast stop near Glasgow. Following the river Don upstream we were soon watching Goosander and some displaying Goldeneye. And after negotiating around a building site found the Harlequin Duck preening further upstream. We watched the bird at times diving at quite close quarters for around an hour before heading off through the Caingorms in search of some specialist Scottish wildlife. Looking at the map Glen Muick looks a good place to try as we have little knowledge of sites in the southern Cairngorms. We soon saw Raven, Red Grouse, Dipper, Hooded Crow, Mountain Hare and Red Deer. Not only were the views stunning but we also stumbled upon a Black Grouse lek to round it off. Driving back via Glen Shee ski centre we soon found a group of Ptarmigan and 40 + Red Grouse close to the road, despite the large numbers of people taking advantage of the snowy conditions. We then started the long drive home.

On the 8^th Laura and I had a stroll around Felbrigg NT before a welcome hot soup in the cafe. Not a lot to report from the lake and meadows, the usual tits and finches, a group of c10 Skylark, 4 Mistle Thrush and a Snipe by the inlet stream.

Driving to work on the 18^th a Woodcock flew through the lights outside the house as we waited, and on the 19^th a Barn Owl was quartering the meadows just over the Coltishall Bridge. We are also now returning home in the semi-dusk and on 24^th a total of 5 Woodcock were seen on the route home.

On the 27^th after pottering at home I decided to walk a little bit of the patch but it was 11.00 before I headed off towards Pigney’s Wood. The Paston way along the railway line was rather quiet bar a few Blue and Great Tit. Behind the ‘Bluebell Wood’ quite a few Blackbird were about along with 3 Song Thrush. There’s been quite a bit of work at Pigney’s since my last visit with an area of Heathland creation, lots of work around the scrapes and the river has been dug out again. Because of this everywhere seemed muddy and few birds were about. The highlight of the walk was a flock of thrushes in a horse paddock off Little London with 10+ Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush and numerous Blackbird.

Driving back from Cromer on 28^th along a short stretch of road we saw a Kestrel, 2 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine, quite a raptor fest. I also spotted my first Grey Partridge of the year in the same area.

January Update

January proved to be almost as quiet as December, the only upside was that everything was new for 2015. As always Gary and I started the year with a days listing on January the first providing 103 species, and I also went for a couple of walks locally but very ventured far. 

January 1^st proved to be a rather testing day, arriving at Titchwell for our normal start time we had to wait over 30 minutes for the light to improve to start seeing birds rather than trying to ID silhouettes. Having already spotted a Robin and Blackbird in the dark at North Walsham, we managed an additional 67 species at Titchwell despite the gloom. A Peregrine low along the beach spotted by Paul and a male Hen Harrier spotted by me where probably the highlights, although i did see Spotted Redshank a bird i managed to miss all of 2014. Choseley in recent times has been quiet and a Red-legged Partridge was all we added here. Thornham also proved to be a one bird stop, but it was the hoped for Twite. Calling in at home we added Snow Bunting and Stonechat in the dunes, before finding some thrushes and garden birds near the toilet block to take the total up to 80.

Snettisham was quite a long walk, with the target, Black-necked Grebe and Glaucous Gull near the far end, but an additional 8 species where added while there. At Roydon we added three species but not the hoped for Great Grey Shrike (turns out we went to the wrong end of the common). Flitcham was alive with a massive mixed flock around the farm and hedgerows, from which we picked Brambling, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Marsh Tit, Jay and GSWood to take the tally to 97.

The light had been poor all day so we decided to ditch the usual route back towards East Norfolk and to finish at Stubb Mill, opting to stay in North Norfolk. A Tundra Bean Goose to Brancaster edged to total towards 100. But it was Barn Owl at Gun Hill and White-fronted Goose at Holkham that got us to the ton barrier. We finished off by watching the roost from Stiffkey Campsite, adding Short-eared Owl and Sparrowhawk. Desperatelytrying to increase the list we looked for an Egyptian or Canada Goose by car headlight at Salhouse but unsurprisingly failed! So the total was 102, well not quite as driving back through Northrepps a Tawny Owl was perched above the road.

While missing Pied Wagtail on the 1^st Jan i wasn’t quite expecting one to turn up at work. Well on my desk to be more precise, it had someone got into the shop and spend around 30 minutes perched on and around the beds and wardrobes near my desk, before leaving via the windows I had opened.

On the 5^th/6^th I spent time helping dad clear firewood from a private wood near North Walsham, skeins of geese came over both days and we flushed a couple of Woodcock, but the woods were surprisingly quite.

On 21^st walked part of the patch for the first time in 2015, wandering to Antingham Pond and back. The fields behind the industrial estate have been planted with mustard and walking the footpath, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Redwing all flew out along with a couple of Yellowhammer. From Lyngate to Antingham Pond it was rather quiet, with a few tits and finches; however I did add Bullfinch and Siskin to the year list with the latter in the Alder by the pond. Back near the mustard field nearly home I then counted 16 Yellowhammer perch on the wires, a pleasant end to the walk.

The 27^th I was again clearing firewood but the woods were much livelier, again some geese passed over and also a Red Kite. 2/3 Great Spotted Woodpecker were calling but the bird was the day was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, an all too rare occurrence now. In amongst the mixed tit and finch flock I also saw 2 Goldcrest and my first Treecreeper of the year.

Winter Update

As I haven’t posted for a couple of months, I thought I should post a winter update before the New Year arrives.

As my lack of posts suggests there hasn’t really been an awful amount to report, poor weather, overtime at work and Christmas all getting in the way of any meaningful birding. In fact most of the highlights of the last few months have been chance encounters while travelling to work.

 

Most mornings I walk a short section of the River Wensum between Barn Road and Duke Street, and most days I spot either a Kingfisher or Grey Wagtail. In early November I started to regularly see a dog Otter in the area fishing just upstream of the sluice gates and on the 10th November 3 Otter were feeding/playing together.

 

 

On a couple of occasions (when it’s been drier) I have walked a longer route from Milecross Road to Duke Street taking in the opposite bank to Wensum Park and the ‘Railway Woods’ by Halfords. On 23rd October I was surprised to see a Mallard with 6 newly hatched ducklings in tow, 2 of which I saw again a few weeks later. As the weather finally got colder in late November I saw Fieldfare and Redwing on this extended route and on the 8th December a Firecrest was in the ‘Railway Wood’. Upto 4 Little Grebe have also started to become regular on the river. On very wet mornings I have walked a more direct route along Magdelen Street, but have still got to see the Peregrine around the Cathedral and Grey Wagtail from the bridge.

 

Erratic Christmas working hours have also seen me some days taking the bus to work rather than a lift, and from the upper deck of the bus I have been able to scrutinise the roadside fields. A flock of Golden Plover near Sco Ruston held a very unusual addition, an Oystercatcher that was obviously very confused. On the 13th December I also saw 4 Common Crane flying over Westwick from the bus. We have also seen a Barn Owl on a couple of occasions not far from Coltishall while driving home. The commute has also featured a few mammals as well in recent months, a Stoat at Croswright, a couple of Weasel, a handful of foxes and numerous deer. Just outside North Walsham Red Deer some weeks have been a daily occurrence, but also Munjac, Roe Deer and Chinese Water Deer have been seen, mainly from the bus while driving the winding back lanes between the villages.

Apart from a cluster of early Autumn migrants the second half of the year has been rather quite for me, a few good birds have been missed, and my normal urge to get out birding seems to waned or at least been more easily distracted. That said I have still managed to add 6 species to my Norfolk List, the highlights being the Great Knot a Breydon, Black-headed Bunting at West Runton and Spectacled Warbler at Burnham Overy , which due to its crippling views has to be my favourite. I also finally caught up with a Red-rumped Swallow. Further afield I have added 7 species to my British List, the 4 fore mentioned, American Coot, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Short-toed Eagle.

 

Twite A Day

With the heavy winds over night I felt that although most birds here already would depart there was a good chance something exciting might turn up, so I caught the train to Sheringham at 7.45 with a plan to then bus onto Cley.

With the Coasthopper now running a winter service I had about an hour to sea watch, the shelter was pretty full, and I was told I had missed a few Pomarine Skua, Bonxie and 3 Short-eared Owl. Gannet were still streaming through and I didn't have to wait long for a couple of distant Bonxie and then a Pomarine Skua a little closer. A couple of Little Gull drifted for a while offshore and just before I had to leave for the bus a Grey Phalarope was called flying east. A few bonus birds considering hadn't realised the change in bus timetables.

After jamming onto the Grey Phalarope I really though the rest of my day was going to be disappointing as cresting the ridge near Kelling, from the bus I could see that most of Salthouse and Cley Marshes were flooded, due to last nights high tides! From the main cluster of hides ducks were the order of the day, in fact the only waders were a flock of Godwit and 2 lonely Avocet. Large numbers of Wigeon and Teal are no doubt new arrivals, these were joined by good numbers of Pintail, Shoveler and a handful of Pochard. On Billy's Wash a Peregrine was repeatedly sending the Wigeon and a flock of Golden Plover into the air. Brent Geese are already back in reasonable numbers but I didn't see any Pinkies all day. Walking back from the hides a Cetti's was calling and two Chinese Water Deer emerged from the reeds onto the boardwalk only feet away, they soon scarpered. A couple of Stonechat were near the entrance to Beach Road, and a lonely Ringed Plover was in a flooded meadow. The Golden plover had settled in the Eye Field as large numbers of Meadow Pipit seemed to be filtering through west, during the day a had numerous groups of c10 and a couple of 50+. North Scrape was the quietest I have seen it with only a few Wigeon present. Between here and East Bank I followed a small flock of birds, which once they settled turned out to be 14 Twite, defiantly find of the day. Apologies for the poor digi-scoped effort, it was still very blustery.

Following the Twite behind Arnold's (very flooded) Marsh, I decided to walk onto Salthouse. The Iron Road was flooded so I walked further on, but the next track was flooded, Beach Road also looked like it was flooded halfway down so I continued East towards Kelling Water Meadows. This was not entirely fruitless as a late Whinchat was at Salthouse Little Eye. A brief stop at Grambrough Hill turned up 2 Goldcrest and a Wren. A Rock Pipit was on the ridge just before KWM, but the Water Meadows themselves held nothing of note with little mud exposed. Stomping on past Kelling Hard and onto Weybourne I only added a Robin and Reed Bunting to the days tally. With aching feet and 6.5 km of shingle behind me I jumped on the bus, followed by the train and went home.

Saturday Patch Migrants

After missing a text from Gary asking if i wanted to go to North Norfolk on Saturday morning, come the afternoon I had to go look for some birds. After doing various jobs it was getting quite late so Laura and I headed over to Paston Cliffs for a little look. I was surprised by the amount of birds we could hear, but as the wind had picked up locating them in the scrub wasn't easy. There seemed to have been a fall of Robin as they accounted for most of the ticking we heard, c20 Robin, 5+ Goldcrest and a few Wren where in the bushes. A few thrushes came up from the cliff/off the sea with 5 Redwing and 2 Fieldfare seen. Quite a few Meadow Pipit seemed to be heading South, along with c10 Pied Wagtail and with them 2 Lapland Bunting flew through, I found them again on the deck further along the cliffs. Looking out to sea despite the land wind a few Gannet drifted through distantly and a Shearwater sp. probably Sooty Shearwater wasn't too far out.

Finally Birding

Since mid-September a raft of Westerly winds have seen migration in Norfolk slow to a trickle, but just in time for my annual 2 week mid-October holiday the wind shifted. Work meant that I missed trips for the Marked Shrike and Little Crake, but on 8th Oct I did get up to Burnham Norton, in some horrible weather to see the Steppe Grey Shrike, but rather distant.

After work on Sunday Laura and I headed up to North Norfolk to stay with friends but torrential rain on Monday meant there was no chance of a coastal walk. The day got worse as I returned home to find a puddle in our utility room, the roof was leaking! Tuesday was then taken up removing most of the tiles from our extension, repairing and re-tiling the roof. While up on the scaffold c40 Redwing few over and a flock of 22 Long-tailed Tit were in the garden. Wednesday was then spent pulling up the lino and soaked under floor insulation (the only upside was I found a tiled floor underneath). Thursday I managed to finally tidy up and it was only this afternoon that I found time to get out birding.

Being 1pm it was a bit late to head to the coast although a small fall of Pallas Warbler made it was tempting. I plumped for my normal circuit out towards Antingham Pond and back. In the fields I found my first migrants of the day, a flock of 50+ Meadow Pipit, further along another group of 9 flew over. I've only ever seen 2 Meadow Pipit on the walk in the past. Numbers of Blackbird and Song Thrush seem to have increased and a couple of Redwing were seen. Near Antingham Pond while doubling back along the road for a closer look at a group of 3 Buzzard drifting east (one looked very pale) I heard a Yellow-browed Warbler call. Despite waiting around, the tit flock I assume the YBW was associating with moved off without seeing or hearing the bird again. Nearer home a few Jay seemed to be passing over, but not the numbers of a few weeks ago. A few less common migrants have been found along the coast so who knows what the weekend and the rest of my holiday will hold.

A (Half) Marathon Migrant Hunt

I had planned on catching an early train and sea watching at Sheringham and exploring the local area, but waking up to rain I stayed in bed awhile and caught a later train to Cromer. The sea mist was only just burning off so an earlier start would probably have been a waste of time. Although it's not Sheringham I still thought I give sea watching a bash, and did between 8.15am and 9.15am. Gannet made up most of the count with Cormorant going backward and forwards. Here's the full count;

Gannet e79 w16, Manx Shearwater e3, Cormorant e37 w31, Dunlin w2, Great Skua e1, Shoveler e1, Fulmer w2, Sandwich Tern e12, Common Scoter e16 w7, Arctic Skua w1, Teal w4, Kittiwake w2, Wigeon w12.

From the promenade I walked east towards the doctor's steps, seeing 2 Wheatear and a Yellow-legged Gull on the beach. I then had a look around Warren Woods and the area near the lighthouse. Another Wheatear and a few Chiffchaff were all I could muster before walking across the golf course towards Overstrand. The clifftop bushes and cliff slumps look idea for migrants but 2 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, and a Garden Warbler seemed like a small haul. On the golf cause itself another 5 Wheatear and 1 Whinchat flitted about.

In Overstrand my first hindrines passed over in the form of 2 House Martin and 1 Swallow. A Wheatear was near the car park and another two were on the promenade. Also along the promenade a gentleman rebuilding the beach huts made me aware of a Purple Sandpiper.

Moving onto Sidestrand I found a Yellow-browed Warbler in some sycamores on Tower Road, my best find of the day. Behind the school I found my second Whinchat of the day, before coming across a group of 77 Cormorant resting on the beach. Before reaching Trimingham and the 'clifftop wood' a Tree Pipit flew over, 5 Grey Partridge strangely flew over the cliffs and 2 more Wheatear were in the fields.

Trimming ws my last coastal area before turning inland towards home. The clifftop wood only held a single Chiffchaff and a few tits, near the Pilgrim Shelter I encountered 2 Goldcrest and 5 House Martin flew through. By the sand pit 6 Swallow few around and I saw my 13th Wheatear of the day.

Skirting the edge of Gimingham I saw 2 Buzzard and my final Wheatear of the day. Walking the footpaths via Trunch, Bradfield and Lyngate 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler and a small group of Skylark where probably summer residents rather than migrants. And that concluded my sea watch and migrant hunt, 7.5 hours, 60 species and 22km (half a marathon) later.

Migrant Hunting Once Again

I started a week off work with an early morning walk on Thursday. Waving Laura off, I set off to walk a regular loop out towards Antingham Pond and back again. It was rather overcast with low cloud and everything seemed subdued, although I did hear a singing Chiffchaff nearby as I left. A Kingfisher whizzing down Lyngate Road as if it were a river, was probably the highlight, but it was just nice to do this walk again as I haven't for a few months. The rest of the day was devoted to jobs around the house.

Friday dad and I headed for the coast in the hope of some migrants. We plumped for Kelling, it seemed as good a place as any and I was hoping the Western Bonelli's may have still been there. Parking by the school we spent a short while looking for the Bonelli's but it was soon evident it had moved on. Walking down the track to the water meadows there were good numbers of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, giving us hope for the day ahead. The track also held a good-size flock of Chaffinch and mixed Tits. A single Bullfinch also flew over before I found a skulking warbler, luckily we didn't have to wait to long to see the bird, a Lesser Whitethroat. According to a 'local' the pools have been almost dry and only recently started to fill again, there was enough water though to attract 2 Dunlin, c20 Teal and a similar number of Pied Wagtail. At the beach I decided on a little impromptu sea watch as with binoculars I could see a few Gannet passing through. In 20 minutes we has 30+ Gannet, a handful of Sandwich Tern, 2 Guillemot and a Razorbill. The short turf by the Radar station had a single Wheatear hopping about and on the fence a female Whitchat frustrated me, moving along a post at a time as soon as I focused my camera! A recently ploughed field held good sized flocks of both Skylark and Meadow Pipit, possibly passing through? We soon found ourselves back at the car with few genuine migrants encountered, but nibbling on a few snacks before heading off a Honey Buzzard flew through quite low going east.

A quick walk around Kelling Heath in the vein hope a few of its Heathland specialities remain, proved fruitless with a group of 8 Buzzard the only thing worth reporting, unless your keen on Wren and Woodpigeon. We thought about stopping off at near Sheringham or West Runton, but with little being reported headed home. Checking the days sightings in the evening I learnt of a Wryneck at Beeston!

Before my 8pm physio app the evening still held enough light for a brisk stroll around the Spa Common area. Bird wise unsurprisingly it was rather quiet, but along the roadside I did see quite a bit of fungi and an area of digging that looks quite good for badgers.

Saturday Laura and I spent the day out and about doing various things, which included a brief visit to the cliffs at Paston. A lone Whinchat on the wires by the paddocks and 2 Wigeon on the sea were the total sum of migrants seen. But a ticking bird deep in thick brambles and unwilling to move was obviously something very rare.

Autumn Clifftop Migrants

With migrants now really starting to flow I decided to give Paston Cliffs a bash this morning with dad. The scrub by the car park held a couple of Whitethroat and a mixed tit flock buzzed about. It seemed quiet, except for the 75+ House Martin and Swallow hawking around. Scanning the bushes on the cliff face I spotted a rather aggravated Robin, it wasn't happy with something, and I soon managed to spot a lovely looking male Black Redstart at the base of the cliff. In the bracken area the usual Dunnock family flitted about, but diving over the cliff edge another bird caught my eye. Peeking over the edge a top a gorse bush was a female/juv Whinchat. Two new patch birds and I had a third shortly after as I spotted a Pied Flycatcher when if briefly left a scrubby area halfway down the cliff. A few more Whitethroat and a mixed Linnet/Goldfinch flock as I wandered towards the paddocks completed this very pleasant if brief walk.

We did then drive onto Trimingham, but had only reached the clifftop wood when it started to rain quite hard. The rain eventually eased enough for us to make an escape back to the car, but the days birding was over.

Migrant Butterflies

With a few days off work but not much going on bird wise, I've spent the last few days generally pottering about. But without trying I have stumbled across a few nice discoveries.

On Friday I went with Dad to his allotment on the edge of town, while feeding the ducks on the 'pond' that is nearby I flushed 3 Green Sandpiper and found a Spotted Flycatcher. This is just within the patch so the latter was also a patch tick. Crossing the road from here to collect some Blackberries the meadow was alive with butterflies, including Small Skipper, Gatekeeper, Peacock, Large White and Small White. But butterfly of the day (well butterflies as there was 2) was Clouded Yellow a species (although a relatively frequent migrant) I have never seen in Norfolk, only on the south coast.

Sunday Laura and I went for a drive, and on our return stopped at garden center near Roughton. In one of their poly-tunnels I was first drawn to a Banded Demoiselle, but that was short lived as I spotted a large butterfly bouncing along inside the roof. The light was poor and the butterfly was mostly silhouetted but something told me to persist. As the butterfly moved along the poly-tunnel I caught a glimpse of the distinctive white edges to the wings, and for a briefest of moments it settled so I could ID it as a Camberwell Beauty, a new butterfly for Britain and my second migrant butterfly in three days. We went onto Pigny's Wood to look for Purple Hairstreak without any luck, but quite a few Darters have emerged and a few Hawker Dragonfly joined them in the air. Lots of Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Whites where the only butterflies we saw.

Late Monday afternoon as I opened the gates to leave home a Tortoiseshell butterfly flew past and caught my attention as appearing to be slightly large. I briefly followed it around the garden before if flew over the hedge. It looked quite fresh and I'm really not sure if it was 'big' or I was just getting carried away with migrant butterflies, anyway today I'll be checking the garden and buddlia behind the house just in case it was a Scarce Tortoiseshell!

Today (5th) I again spent some time at the allotment, this time armed with my camera and binoculars! I managed an impressive butterfly species count of 15 including 5 Clouded Yellow, a Painted Lady and lots of common species. I spent an age chasing the Clouded yellow around but failed to get a single in focus shot, all the butterflies seemed extra energetic in the baking sun. Down by the 'pond' I found 4 species of dragonfly and 4 species of damselfly including Small Red-eyed Damselfly. The Green Sandpiper was again present, along with a family of Blackcap and Willow Warbler.

Rare bird or Knot...

....I'm not going to Yarmouth 3 days in a row. On Monday morning news broke that a Great Knot had been found at Breydon Water the night before. Although I was off work it was rather frustrating as I had been in Yarmouth on the Sunday and had already planned a walk around Breydon on Tuesday. The question was do I visit Yarmouth 3 days in a row, with a few jobs to do and the only feasible way to get there involving two trains, I decided to risk it and wait until Tuesday.
My risk paid off, dad dropped me near ASDA at 9.00am before taking mum onto the hospital. By 9.15am I had distant views of the Great Knot which gradually edged closer. By 10.15am the bird had flown in to a distance of c200m, joined the roosting Godwit as the rising tide forced the birds off the mud. By 10.45am I had had my fill of Great Knot and was chomping on a bacon butty in ASDA. The light was poor for photos so I only managed a grainy record shot of the bird among the Godwit, honestly its in there somewhere, a Curlew Sandpiper was also on show.

Gary called me after work on Saturday to ask if i wanted to join him on an evening trip to Winterton with a report that the Northumberland Bridled Tern had the previous night roosted with the Little Tern. A third 'Mega' in Norfolk in less than a week seemed too good to be true (a Black-winged Pratincole was in North Norfolk) and so it turned out. Meeting a group of birders on the beach at Winterton as the sun began to set the stories of the previous day/night unraveled slightly and the now 'probable' Bridled Tern had not roosted but been seen distantly offshore, the presence of a juv. Black Tern in the area also complicated matters. Still on what was a very warm evening (still 22C at 9.45pm) we did get to see a lovely sunset before the thunder and lightning storm we got on our return home.

Late Post, Late Twitch, Late Home

On Sunday 22nd June Gary and I finally got time to go and twitch the Short-toed Eagle, in East Sussex, apologies for the late write up. Gary collected me a little after 2.30am, with a plan to be back in Norfolk for lunch.

We arrived around 6am, already a small cluster of birdwatchers present, allowing us to locate the correct car park at Ashdown Forest. The ST Eagle was yet to rise, but no one was quite sure where in the valley it had roosted, so we spent the next hour or so scanning.

Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Wren and Pied Wagtail were all around the 'Gills Lap' car park, and scanning the valley we soon had seen Whitethroat, Goldfinch, Stonechat, Blackbird, Great Tit, Mistle Thrush and Swift. There was at least one family of Stonechat and probably a second as we scanned further along the valley. There was no sign of the Eagle, but Woodlark and Tree Pipit proved a pleasant distraction. 

Just after 8.00am news came out that the Short-toed Eagle was perched 2.5km NW of the car park, we thought we should be able to see the bird from where we were so started scanning. Gary picked up a raptor in flight which started off quite a stir, it turned out to be a Honey Buzzard, but a game of Chinese whispers saw people calling it as the eagle! After a second pager message everyone ran off down the hill to try and locate the ST Eagle. We decided to walk in a slightly different direction, after noting a small group of birders across the valley, focused of something. A pleasant chap from Blackpool joined us and soon had some direction from a friend on his phone. We soon located the Short-toed Eagle perch high in a pine, although distant, our position at least gave good light. We moved slightly further up the hill to give us better views if the bird took off, which eventually it did. We couldn't really have left without seeing he Eagle in flight, so although a little latter than planned we left satisfied at 10am.

The traffic around M25 was quite so we cruised home, a quick stop at Stanstead for a drink as it was getting warm and all was well. That was until on the A14 we started to lose power, pulling into services it was clear we had over heated and had little water. After letting the car cool we filled up the water, and it promptly ran straight out of the bottom of the radiator. After a 2.5 hour delay and a visit from the AA we were back on the road, with the hole in the radiator temporarily repaired!

I've been to Specsavers...

...well Gun Hill actually. The Spectacled Warbler turned up last Monday just as a started the stretch of rota that sees me with only Wednesday off, a day I already had plans. So for a week I have read the blogs of friends and wanted to headed to Burnham Overy dunes, but surely the bird wouldn't stay to give me the chance. We luckily for me it did, so today dad and I headed up the coast. We arrived about 10am and didn't have to wait long for the Spectacled Warbler to show. Although it spent much of the time scrabbling through the sueada, on two occasions it perched up singing, before resuming what looked like nest building activities. The bird was always quite close and there was no need to my scope, the below photo was taken on my hand held compact camera.

The warbler had a supporting cast of Little Tern, Spoonbill and a slightly unseasonal Ring Ouzel, alongside the commoner species, before we headed further inland. The birds were harder to come by, with the exception of Common Whitethroat that seemed to be in every hedge. But we saw Tree Sparrow and Montagu's Harrier our target species.

Travelling back toward Kelling we saw a Little Owl sunning itself near Stiffkey, sadly he got camera shy. Two Yellow Wagtail were seen near Warham and a Barn Owl was hunting over the meadows in Cley. Kelling Heath was, with the exception of Linnet rather quite,  and the hoped for Woodlark and Dartford Warbler could not be found. A fly over Turtle Dove excited dad as he hadn't seen one or 3 years, and a family of Stonechat was nice to see.

Since my last blog posting I have on my travels to and from work seen a Red Kite and one of the juvenile Peregrine. Closer to home a Song Thrush has taken up residence in our garden, he has taken to singing from the guttering right out side our bedroom window at 5am and leaves snail shells all over the path.

Wet Black-headed Bunting & RB Shrike

Yesterday (Wed 27th) Gary called about 7pm offering a lift to look for a female Black-headed Bunting near West Runton. The kitchen was in pieces, as I had removed or the cupboards to decorate but I still went. We arrived in heavy drizzle to hear the bird had been flush and not seen for a while, after waiting for 30min or so the light was very poor, we decided the bird had probably gone to roost so headed home, only to get new that it had reappeared later.

Gary collected me at 4.30am today and we headed to West Runton. I don't think the drizzle had stopped all night, but after an hour of fruitless searching it eased off. And Gary then promptly found the bunting emerging from the garden it probably roosted in. We got good views as it perched on the house roof, and in a briefly in a roadside bush, before it headed off towards the bushes behind the old pig farm. We got reasonable scope views the the light was too poor for me to manage a good photo.

A brief stop at Beeston Bump allowed us to view the always stunning male Red-backed Shrike that is present before returning home by 7am. Writing this I've now dried out and warmed up. The light wasn't much better at Beeston, but I did manage a picture.

A possible 'Mega' Norfolk day

We booked the week off and then realised its school half term, so we have decided to stay close to home and try to tidy the house up a bit more. Yesterday in the search of DIY supplies we headed out to Wroxham, going via Tunstead in a bid to avoid a convoy of caravan. It was about 11.30 and close to Wroxham a raptor caught my eye. Circling high it looked strange and I could not pin its ID down, with its wings showing large finger like protrusions and the size of a Buzzard I ended up plumping for a 'strange looking buzzard'. Frustratingly I now learn that a reported Booted Eagle was floating about Norfolk at the time, in hindsight maybe we should have stopped and checked, it may still have been 'strange Buzzard'.

Gary also called to let me know of the Slenderbilled Gull at Titchwell, we had planned to send part of this week in the Holme/Titchwell area before realising that it was school holidays. Another if but and maybe for the day.

Typing this I have just read news of a Black-headed Bunting in Cromer yesterday, with access to be arranged today, if the bird remains. After the night of wind and rain, I can only hope it is drenched and could fly off. Yesterday could have been a Mega Norfolk Day.

On a brighter note our Blue Tit family are about to fledge, and we have at least 6 young Robin and 4 young Blackbird also in the garden.

Star Wars 'May Bird Race' Day

Leaving North Walsham at 3.30am and collecting James on route, we headed off down the A11, with the Star Wars theme playing loud and Jedi cloaks wrapped around us. It was May ‘four’ce and bird race day! ^th May and we were on the A11).

(Some of those ‘facts’ might not be true, but it was 4

Our first bird of the day was a female Pheasant (1), on the pavement before we left North Walsham. We had arrived at Santon Downham, before we added a heard only Cuckoo (2). It was -1C and much quieter than normal, so we had to wait a while for things to warm up and the birds to start to call. Walking down to a favoured site for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, we added Mallard, Water Rail, Blackbird, Kestrel, Wren, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Treecreeper, Blue Tit and Little Grebe (12).

Waiting for any sign of the LSW we heard our first Turtle Dove of the day. Great Tit, Green Woodpecker (H), Mandarin Duck, Nuthatch, Cormorant, Stock Dove, Jackdaw and Lesser Black-backed Gull (20) were added as the morning started to emerge from the frost and misty haze. We then found the best bird for this section of the site a calling Willow Warbler (21), just before deciding to walk back and try St Helen’s Picnic area. On the way we encountered Great Spotted Woodpecker (H), Grey Wagtail, Crossbill, Magpie, Pied Wagtail and Reed Bunting (27)  all before the bridge, and then Starling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Moorhen, Robin and Siskin (34). From the road we spotted a group of Crossbill perched up, and closer inspection reviled the flock to be a mix of Crossbill and Lesser Redpoll (35). A quick look by the railway line gave us Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Coal Tit (H), Garden Wabler (H) and Blackcap (41). Gary then saw the Garden Warbler but neither James nor I did, amazingly despite trying hard we never saw a Coal Tit all day either. Parking at the  St Helen’s side of Santon Downham, we soon heard and eventually saw Tree Pipt (42).  A walk by the river and wooded area by the church, added Song Thrush, Goldcrest (last year’s boggy bird) and Whitethroat (45). With that we headed off to Lynford a new stop on May’s Bird Race Day.

Within minutes of arriving at Lynford we had clocked a large crossbill flock and as some of them drank in a puddle, we saw the male Two-barred Crossbill (46), joined also by the ‘iffy’ male TBC. We then set of for a lap of the paddock hoping for the reported Wood Warbler and maybe a Hawfinch. We saw neither but added Canada Goose, Greylag, Tufted Duck, Mistle Thrush, Marsh Tit, Yellowhammer, Mute Swan and Swallow (54) to the days total. By the folly a Firecrest (55) was a new  ‘bird race’ bird. Over by the gravel pits Egyptian Goose, Black-headed Gull, Shelduck, Gadwall, Willow Warbler and finally Great Crested Grebe (61), before escaping the wasps in the hide (I counted 6 small and 1 large nest).

We drove on towards Lakenheath, adding Collared Dove and House Sparrow (63) in Weeting village before a brief stop at Weeting Heath NWT. On the reserve we soon saw Skylark,  Stone Curlew, Rook and Lapwing (67).  We watched the Stone Curlew steal a dead mole from a Jackdaw and try to eat it, 6 Mistle Thrush close to the hides were also worth note.

Before arriving at Lakenheath i spotted a Greenfinch (68) the other too missed. Our normal quick dash from Lakenheath RSPB car park, (a dash as not to see birds in Suffolk) up to view the Hockwold washes (Norfolk) from the view point, was detoured via the visitor centre as they have moved the paths. At this point we saw an uncountable Green Woodpecker and cursed. We added Common Tern, Coot, Teal, Shoveler, Grey Heron, House Martin and Hobby (75), the latter bird the highlight if a little distant.

Welney WWT was the next stop on out tour of Norfolk, Red-legged Partridge and Marsh Harrier (77) ticked while on route. In the car park Sedge Warber were singing and a Red Kite (79) drifted over our heads. Scanning Lady Fen Little Egret, Redshank and Avocet (82) found their way onto out lists. We opted to rough it in the non heated hide to the left of the observatory, Whooper Swan, Little Ringed Plover, Wigeon, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Yellow Wagtail and a distant Sparrowhawk (89) were all noted down. Gary then noted that Great White Egret was in the observations book, the observer was nearby and told us where it had been, and the warden advised to save the walk we may be able to see it from the main observatory. We could so left the hide to walk the walk, no sooner had we left the warden appeared ‘It’s just flow the other way!’. It had landed out of sight but we headed to the Reedbed hide to have a scan. After awhile I located the bird through the reeds, rubbish views but still a tick, Great White Egret (90). Walking back we added Reed Warbler and Linnet (91), before back at the main hide a second Great White Egret was on show. Walking back over the bridge James spotted 3 Swift (93) my first of the year.

In recent years Pentney has turned up some good and often surprising ‘bird race day’ birds, but not today. On route near Downham Market we added Common Buzzard and Feral Pigeon (95). Pentney disappointingly on added Great Black-backed Gull (96) to the lists. Last year Roydon Common ate up a lot of our time as we hunted for Woodlark, again we failed to see Woodlark, but were more conscious of time. Stonechat, Curlew and Wheatear (99) were seen along with a Hairy Hawker Dragonfly. Flitcham continued a little run of disappointing locations, the Little Owl was hiding the no Tree Sparrow could be found, the only bonus was a sleeping Yellow-legged Gull in front of the hide (100).

Stopping in at Choseley it was nice to see the 2 Dotterel (101) that have stuck around for a week and a Grey Partridge was by the barns. The main Titchwell Reserve was our last chance to rack up big numbers of birds before visiting a few sites for more specialist stuff. The pools either side of the main path gave up Red-crested Pochard, ‘Common’ Pochard, Cetti’s Warbler (H) and a Bearded Tit (106). Gary spotted a lone Brent Goose over Thornham Marsh before we viewed a pair of Gargany on the Fresh Marsh. Other new birds on the Fresh Marsh were Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Herring Gull, Grey Plover, Ruff, Arctic Tern and Turnstone (115). James found a Greenshank (116) on the Brackish Marsh, but the previously reported Spotted Redshank, so we headed to the beach. The tide was a long way out but we still saw Little Tern, Sandwich Tern and Bar-tailed Godwit (119), before Gary found our only sea duck, a flock of c20 Common Scoter (120). Walking back to the car Meadow Pipit and Sand Martin (122) were seen. A quick stop at Choseley gave up a Corn Bunting (123), before we headed east along the coast.

Gary spotted a Great Spotted Woodpecker fly over the Coast Road but James and I both missed it. Near Burnham Market a quick stop netted us a Short-eared Owl (124) spotted low over the fields by Gary, who also heard a Lesser Whitethroat. Parking up at Gun Hill we scanned Burnham Overy Dunes and Holkham, Gary picked up 4 Pink-footed Geese and I found 3 Whimbrel and a Spoonbill (127) in the area.

Next stop was Kelling Heath, again no Woodlark, but two Turtle Dove (128) raised our spirits. Cutting back to Cley Marshes NWT we parked at the coastguards and walked towards North Scrape (minus its hide). The Eye field had at least 3 Yellow Wagtail and 6+ Wheatear, but it was scanning to Symonds Scrape that we added Ringed Plover and Common Gull (130) to the tally. The light was fading fast now so we headed up to Salthouse Heath, a single singing Nightingale (131) wasn’t hard to locate, but seeing it was much harder, eventually it gave fleeting views as it flew across the road. Heading home a Tawny Owl (132)  flew across the road near Holt, upgrading our previous heard only bird from Salthouse.

 So we finished the day on 132 species? Well not quite, somewhere in the mix we also saw a Ruddy Duck (133), but in case the environment agency is spying on me I shall not say where. We also found a Stone Curlew deep in the wilds of North Norfolk. 133 was an good total, but we honestly feel 150 is achievable and that was out target. Missing birds like Jay, Barn Owl, Kingfisher, Tree Sparrow, Eider, Knot, Pintail, Little Owl and Woodlark all birds normally encounter we were always going to struggle. I could put it down to the cold start to the day, the heat haze of the afternoon, poor research or just bad luck, but I think I will blame the Sith Lord, coming a day early.

Putting in the Miles

Tuesday morning I spent helping dad with a few jobs, this did include a trip to Sandy Hills, a small area of the patch to the SE of town. Here I found a Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush and 2 pairs of Shelduck, as well as common tits/finches and Whitethroat which seemed to be everywhere.

After Lunch dad dropped me off near Knapton, I planned to walk to Paston Cliffs and circle back home via Pigny’s Wood. Walking across the fields from Paston at one point 13 Skylark where floating about, and reaching the cliff top I heard the call of a Tree Pipit, it flew west along the cliff top and appeared to land but I never relocated it, but another year and patch tick for ‘the cliffs’. 3 Golden Plover were in the potato field and 4 Turnstone on the beach are worth note. Past the Camp and in the Horse Paddocks I found 2 Wheatear, a Pied Wagtail, 16 Linnet and 5 Skylark all feeding in and around a group of c20 Starling. As the footpath has fallen away I then clambered down the cliff, as I did this 2 Swallow flew through east, has summer been and gone, I know it was a bit chilly but still!

For some reason I then changed my plans thinking a look on the golf course would be good, well it wasn’t a single Wheatear the only bird of note. I then headed off across the fields via the Old Hospital towards Trunch. A skulking Willow Warbler held my attention for a while as heavy drizzle started to fall. The back road hedge held lots of Chaffinch, Tits and Whitethroat, but again nothing to excite. Although I did find a lot of what I believe are Early Purple Orchids (I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong). I then continued my walk via Bradfield and Lyngate to avoid walking the main roads. The weather improved slightly and a few Swallow and House Martin were about the villages. Joining back up with my patch at Lyngate I found what I think was my favourite birds of the day, a pair of Tree Sparrow. I’ve walked this area ever couple of weeks since moving and on two occasions have thought I heard them, but it was nice to finally see them, the 4 Bullfinch that accompanied them in the same hedge were a bonus. It was a nice way to end what turned out to be a 16km walk, but should have been much shorter.

After having to stop putting our fence up, because Blue Tit have moved into one of the old bird boxes I thought I’d have a proper nose about the garden to see what other birds might be nesting. The results for my relatively small garden were surprising, 3 Blackbird, 2 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 1 Great Tit and 1 Blue Tit nests.

Driving home from work last night (Wednesday),  I nearly made Laura crash the car, shouting out ‘Cuckoo’ as we passed through Crostwright, as my first Cuckoo of the year was perched atop of a roadside tree.

Birding Along Changing Lines

It’s been 6 months since I moved back to North Walsham, so I thought I’d review my North Walsham patch. The area I decided on as my new patch always felt a bit big, but it contained most of the areas I regularly frequented 10 or so years ago, plus a few new ones.

However now I live on the other side of North Walsham, I have found the areas to the south/east of town (the areas I used to visit most) I have hardly visited at all. Only visiting these areas infrequently I feel I can’t class them as part of my ‘Patch’ and I feel I am better off focusing what free time I have more intensely on the areas closer to our new home.

I have therefore cut down my patch area, removing the Honing area and also the Southrepps/Trunch area which is just that too far to walk from the home. However the ‘lost patch’ areas will still be visited, and I have marked these (in blue) along with a few other sites that a visit but were excluded from my initial patch.

More Clifftop Migrants

Leaving a Birthday gathering in Mundesley at 6.30pm on Saturday it seemed worth a quick stop off at the Holiday Camp as we were only a couple of minutes away. We initially looked around the horse paddocks to the west, but they failed to give up the hoped for Wagtail or Wheatear, but walking back my first Lesser Whitethroat of the year was in the clifftop brambles. There seemed to be quite a lot of House Martin heading through west with the odd Swallow. Looking over the cliff a group of Linnet flitted about and a couple of Common Whitethroat were defending territories. Back at the car 3 Whimbel flew over, appearing to have flown up from the fields and headed west. Walking the cliffs to the east of the camp a few more Common Whitethroat were about and a single Yellow Wagtail flew over. Driving home not far Pigny's Wood two Wheatear were a surprise, flying along the road in front of the car before perching in the hedge.

Sounds of Spring

Yesterday while waiting for Laura to have a massage I went for a wander around Spa Common, it was late evening so I wasn't expecting much. By the Mill however I stumbled across the drake Mandarin Duck found last week at Pigny's Wood, not on the patch but still nice to catch up with it. A couple of Song Thrush provided a lovely sound track as the evening became dusk.

I decided today (24th) to head down to Pigny's Wood early, something I've intended but not managed over the last week. Walking along the old railway line, mist hung in the air pierced by the sound of Chiffchaff. Reaching the old bridge at Swafield, I could hear Whitethroat calling, along with Sedge Warbler in the riverside reeds. Among the calls I could hear a Grasshopper Warbler and after 10 minutes or so I managed brief views. Walking along the river a pair of Reed Bunting sang and I found my first Reed Warbler of the year. Before reaching Mike Thurston's a Willow Warbler completed quite a haul of warbers. I had a quick look out from the new hide at Pigny's hoping the Mandarin may have relocated, but only had 2 fly-through Egyptian Geese and a lone Swallow. A female Bullfinch was eating buds nearby and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was near the barn. I wandered up towards the hilltop wood and admired the Bluebells.

 The sound of warblers dominated the morning, by the time I was back in town I had seen no fewer than 8 Chiffchaff, 12 Sedge Warbler, 13 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap,1 Willow Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 1 Reed Warbler. Just two weeks ago I may have heard 1/2 Chiffchaff, what a difference a few days of easterly wind can make.

Clifftop Migrants

After doing a few jobs around the house on Good Friday, Saturday and Sunday saw some free time to go bird watching. (Though on Friday morning at 6.30am I did go out on my bike to look for some reported Dotterel, before Laura awoke, but without success.)

Saturday morning Laura and I popped into Stalham calling at the farmers market and a few local shops. During this time Gary text me, firstly informing me that a Mandarin was at Pigny's Wood, then to tell me it had left and finally to say he had found a Ring Ouzel there. Two good patch birds, and I had planned an early start there too, but tired from spending Friday in the garden, unusually for me I had rolled back over and had a lay in. Feeling I had to make some sort of amends for my faux par, Laura and I called into Mundesley Camp / Paston Cliffs. With a blustery wind I wasn't too hopeful, but shortly after getting out of the car a Ring Ouzel called, before a Yellow Wagtail flew over. Walking towards the Gas Terminal a large flock of c100 hindrines appeared from nowhere, containing mainly Swallow and Sand Martin but with 5/6 House Martin for good measure. I still hadn't located the Ring Ouzel but thought I'd look for Wheatear on the short grass to the west of the Camp, and sure enough I found 2 male and 1 female. Walking back a bird caught my eye darting over the cliff edge, it was a female Ring Ouzel and while looking down towards the beach I notice an Arctic Tern on the Groyne posts. In the clifftop brambles lots of caterpillars had emerged, which I think maybe Yellow-tail or Brown-tail Moth? Getting into the car a further 2 Yellow Wagtail flew over and a Pied Wagtail was in the car park. If I'd have gone to Pigny's I wouldn't have bothered with the cliffs, some you win some you lose.

On Sunday, driving around looking for something to do, Laura and I eventually arrived at Ranworth. A walk down to the floating visitor center, proved to be rather quite but it was nice to see quite a lot of Common Tern wheeling away and starting to prepare to breed on the nest platforms. Arriving home a Coal Tit was a new garden tick, as we pulled into the yard.

Felbrigg Red-rumped Swallow

At 6.40pm I was sitting on the bus home from work, and nearly at my stop when my phone rang, 2 minutes later Gary had picked me up. A Red-rumped Swallow had been spotted among a mixture of hinderines over Felbrigg Hall Lake and after a quick dash over the meadows we were watching the RRS buzzing about with Swallow and Sand Martin. RRS is a bird that i have chased about on a couple of occasions only to fail to connect.

On the lake I also spotted a pair of Mandarin Duck and together with Sand Martin, Swallow and Red-rumped Swallow, I had added 4 year ticks including 1 lifer. And I was at home again by 7.30pm.

Arriving (and Leaving) Mirgants

Walking up to heavy rain i didn't think i would be going far but by 10.30am it was just the odd light shower so i headed out towards Antingham via the Quiet Lanes.

It was rather quiet with many birds no doubt taking cover from the brief but squally showers. By the bridge in Lyngate the trees where a buzz with tits and finches, 2 Chiffchaff made lots of noise and a distant Buzzard circled over towards Swafield. 4 Yellowhammer where near the meadows, but not the Yellow Wagtail that I hopped might be passing through, but i did find some other migrants. 12 Redwing flew over the chapel and then an early Whitethroat and singing Blackcap were in the hedgerow. Antingham Pond was very quiet with all the migrant ducks now gone but a Kingfisher was in the channel that feeds the River Ant. Back near Lyngate 5 Stock Dove were near Grammar School Farm and the drizzle had stopped enough for 3 Skylark to take to the air.

Wheatears in the mist. . . not today!

I had to wait in for the boiler repair man until 10.30am so couldn't get out early, and anyway a cold mist hung over everything when i got up. While waiting i dug over a small area of my garden and was followed along by a Robin, a Chiffchaff briefly gave a burst of song from the tree in the garden, the first new garden bird in a while.

Last week i gave my bike a once over, so today pulled it out of the shed. I decided I head out via Felmingham Heath, circle round via the Quiet lanes near Bradfield and head for Mundesley and Paston, hoping the morning mist may have grounded a few migrants. The mist looked like it would soon burn off, but as i got to Felmingham it seemed colder and duller than ever. The Heath held lots of Chiffchaff and i saw 2 Willow Warbler, a calling Blackcap was my first of the year but i could not see it, but that was about it even the tits and finches normally abundant seemed subdued.

Cycling off the Heath i noticed i had a puncture, so headed straight home along Weavers Way my Misty Wheatears would have to wait. On the way back I did stumble upon some migrants though in the form of 22 Fieldfare on the edge of North Walsham. Back at home while putting the bike away (I decided I didn't have the patience to repair the puncture), I scored my second garden bird of the day as a calling Mistle Thrush flew over the garden. I dug a bit more garden, before routing about in the pond trying to clear the pump, in the process I discovered we have Smooth Newts another new specie in the garden.

On Monday I noticed James' Blog reported a Black Redstart nr Bracondale in Norwich, so scurried off during my break to locate it. Initially I thought the bird had gone, but it appeared from over the roof top closely chased by a Blackbird. The Black Redstart briefly took refuge in the trees before returning, sadly I couldn't stay long as I was only meant to be having a 30min break!

Hitting the Patch

We still have not got a landline installed so have no regular internet access at home, but you have not missed any big adventures with my lack of posts.

Apart from the couple of big away days previously mentioned I've been concentrating on my new patch. Literally starting on my doorstep has allowed me to visit different parts of it on a weekly basis, far more than I could ever manage on the old Whitlingham Patch.

The quiet roads between my house and Antingham have proved to be my favourite area of the patch with 8 visits since Christmas, followed closely by Pigney's Wood. All my patch visits have so far been on foot, including one walk out to the coast at Paston, but with migration starting the bike will now have to be dusted off as I want to visit the Paston area more over the next couple of months.

'Antingham' and 'Pigney's Wood' featured highly during January as both area fell with the 2 miles i set for the 'Foot It Challenge' and i managed a tally of 66 species for January. The Lyngate area to the north of my house forms the core of my 1km sq that i will be focusing on more as plants and insects start to stir with the warmer weather(if the internet is installed next week these pages will soon have a big update).

So far this year the patch has provided 84 species, I've set myself a realistic target of 120 species for the year so we will see how it goes. This years highlights so far include Corn Bunting nr Antingham, Goosander on Antingham Pond and Common Crossbill nr Felmingham Heath.

Yellow-rumped Warbler and another trip North

On Saturday, in the teeth of a gale Gary and I headed north to catch up with the Yellow-rumped Warbler in near Durham. Leaving North Walsham just after 4am, dodging a few fallen trees we arrived around 9am.

We didn't have to wait long with great views of the Yellow-rumped Warbler as it done a few circuits of the hedge and nearby gardens. We waited around to try to get better photos as the light was poor but the bird became more reclusive as other birds started to use the feeders.

We headed off to Langdon Beck to hunt for Black Grouse. In places the snow was lying quite deep and drifted across the road in places. Driving through to St John's Chapel we failed to see anything. Surprisingly as it was snowing on the drive back towards Langdon Beck we found 8-10 Red Grouse, and on a pasture close to Langdon Beck Hotel we found 13 Black Grouse. We went off to look at a nearby reservoir, saw nothing and nearly got stuck in the snow. Back by the Hotel I then spotted a Black Grouse in a tree close to the road side, Gary told me i had seen a bin bag or some rubbish, he still reversed and we had crippling views of a male Black Grouse eating berries. The car had not enjoyed the adventure as much as us, with the steering rack caked in ice and the brakes frozen, we had to have a pit stop to defrost the car before heading home.

On Sunday Laura and I headed out to buy a few bits for the house, and while out we saw 2 Common Crane at Potter Heigham, and Whooper and Bewick's Swan at Ludham. On Monday i forgot to look for the Waxwing on Ber Street in Norwich, but writing this i can see the lone Waxwing in the apple tree opposite work. Apologies for another rambling post hopefully i'll get the formatting sorted soon!

A Scottish Dash

Since moving house there has been 3 or 4 'mega' birds to try and twitch, but the move, work and other commitments have left Gary and i concentrating on our local patches. The American Coot has however remained near Inverness since Christmas and although 550 miles away proved one twitch to many to avoid. On Sunday night at 10.30pm Gary picked me up and we started the long drive north. Driving non-stop through the night (stopping only in Avimore, just before we ran out of fuel) we arrived in Inverness at 7.15am, bolted down a fried breakfast in Tescos and arrived at Loch Flemington around 8am. Pulling into the layby next to the Loch within seconds we has seen the American Coot in the margins just feet away. An anti-climax in a way, as 'megas' should not be this easy!

We waited around for the light to improve seeing, 20+ Bewick's Swan, a Great Northern Diver and 6+ Goldeneye. After a trying to tempt the AC closer with a sandwich, we took a few photos and headed off into the Highlands to look for a few Scottish specialties. Driving back towards Avimore via Dulsie Bridge and Lochindorb, we saw Dipper, Peregrine and Red Grouse. At Loch Garten RSPB a man has set up some feeders in the carpark and invited us in close, we saw Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Treecreeper at extremely close quarters. We then heard the call of a Crested Tit and shortly 3 stunning Crested Tit appeared a few feet in front of us.

Made up we headed off to Cairngorm, our last stop to look for Ptarmigan. Cairngorm Mountain was crazy, the railway and ski lifts were closed but without going higher than the carpark we experienced 90-100mph gusting winds and a wind chill of -12C. Hiding behind the car, we watched c20 Snow Bunting being blown around the carpark, before some how we found a small group of Ptarmigan, distant but still a nice bird to see. Leaving Cairngorm around 1.30pm we arrived home just before midnight to complete our mad dash to Scotland.

January 1st Bird Race

All month I've thought I should really do a post about mine and Gary's annual January 1st Bird Race day. Well the month is not quite out but time has gotten the better of me so below is a summary, shamelessly stolen from Gary of the days birding which despite some horrible weather saw us amass 110 species for the day.

We started the day, leaving the house at 5.30 and heading for Titchwell. The forecast was not good so didn't well hold much hope in a large total.

Arriving at Tichwell, the first visitors as normal, we had already seen Feral Pigeon, Blackbird, Pheasant and Woodpigeon 'in the dark'. We walked along side the freshmarsh as the Sun rose, allowing us to see Greylag, Teal, Canada Goose, Shoveler, Moorhen, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Curlew and Gadwall. The Volunteer Marsh was quiet but on the Tidal Marsh we saw Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Little Grebe, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Grey Plover, Water Rail and Bar-tailed Godwit.

Arriving at the beach it was still very dusk, but was getting light very fast. Along the shore line we could see Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Turnstone and Common Gull. A Wren briefly distracted us before back to the sea we added Sanderling and Great Black-backed Gull as more birds started to become visible. Gary soon found a cracking little Slavonian Grebe close inshore, a Cormorant and then a few Goldeneye started popping up on the sea. I picked out a small group of Common Scoter and a handful of Red-throated Divers as they started to fly through. We then located some Great Crested Grebes before and a pair of Red-breasted Merganser flew in and landed on the sea. Brent Goose and Eider flew through and then Pink-footed Geese flew past in the distance and a Magpie flew over our heads. Gary spotted a distant Auk which eventually landed and was a Razorbill. Three Long-tailed Ducks then flew through. A Goldfinch flew over before we added to the waders, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Knot. At this point we saw our first birder of the day, he found some ducks flying over sea and wanted clarification that they were Scoter. Gary then found that the lead bird was in fact a Velvet Scoter. We were about to leave when the same birder shouted Guillemot which gave us a total of 48 before leaving the beach at around 8.30am.

Scanning the tidal marsh and the salt marsh in better light we soon saw Carrion Crow, Little Egret, Wigeon and Pintail. Gary heard and saw a Meadow Pipit drop into the sueda which I didn't see. We saw Shelduck on the Volunteer Marsh before scanning the Fresh Marsh, here we saw Ruff, Avocet, Pied Wagtail and Snipe before carrying on.

Into the bushes we saw Bullfinch, Robin and a showy Cetti's Warbler. We then walked round to Patsy's Pool seeing Marsh Harrier on the way and Pochard, Tufted Duck and Coot on the pool itself. We walked back towards the visitor centre soon adding Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit and Great Tit, with Brambling and Greenfinch in the trees above the feeders. We then went off to get a Bacon Roll and were the first customers of 2014! From the kiosk we added Dunnock, Collared Dove and a Skylark flew over we then left but not before seeing Red-legged Partridge our 76th bird of the day.

Choseley was dead, but not far away a large flock of finches flew across the road, this contained around 50 Linnets, 30 Yellowhammer and a handful of Corn Bunting. Other birds in the flock were around 200 Chaffinch and 30 Brambling. We carried on driving and going through Ringstead we added Jackdaw.

We were heading for Snettisham in the hope of seeing the Black-necked Grebe on the approach road we saw a flock of around 40 Fieldfare and once we arrived at Snettisham car park negative news on the grebe came onto the pager, we checked the first pits anyway adding Egyptian Goose.

On the road we saw a Buzzard near Wolferton before arriving at Flitcham. By this time a persistent light rain was in the air assisted with a terrible wind. At Flitcham we walked from the carpark up the road seeing a handful of Redwing fly over and a Stock Dove on a distant barn. Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrow were in the flock of finches spooked up by a Buzzard along with more Brambling. We then went into the hide seeing Jay in the distance but no Little Owls. A Coal Tit was in the pines as we left the hide to head for Edgefield on 89 species.

On the drive to Edgefield the weather got worst, but we carried on regardless and hoped for the best. During the drive we added Kestrel and Rook near to Sculthorpe.

It was still pouring with rain as we got out of the car at Edgefield. We saw a Song Thrush and were soon watching a 1st Jan lifer a Parrot Crossbill , and a Norfolk Tick for me after missing out on the Bacton Wood birds. Next stop was the tip, we soon added Lesser Black-backed Gull, and continued down the road and found another flock of gulls in which Gary soon picked out the Glaucous Gull.

Still ahead of schedule we decided to add a new destination to the 1st Jan race and set off to Buckenham. A quick call in at the mill at Horstead failed to deliver Grey Wagtail, but we did see a Mute Swan our 96th bird on the river at Coltishall.

Arriving at Buckenham the weather was the worst it had been, standing in the shelter was pointless with the rain being blown straight through it. But it was worth it seeing at first a Starling, then Barnacle Geese, followed by a flock of White-fronted Geese flying over and that landed next to the Taiga Bean Geese. Our 100th bird of the day.

Next stop, Strumpshaw. At the feeders was saw a Marsh Tit and added Grey Heron with a quick to the fen hide. Another quick look at the feeders and a Lesser Redpoll called, followed by very brief views.

The unexpected 104th bird of the day at around 3.15 in near dark miserable conditions right on the peak of the Acle bridge in the middle of the road was a House Sparrow.

A brief stop at Ludham and you could easily pick out the Whooper Swans among the Bewick's. We then carried on to Hickling for the stub mill roost. Upon arrival a Sparrowhawk flew through in front of us. Many Marsh Harriers were flying around and a ringtail Hen Harrier then joined in. I spotted three Cranes in the meadows and we had an additional 11 fly in during the rest of the evening. The last bird of the day and our 110th bird was the same as most years a Woodcock that whizzed past our headed before we wondered back.

KFC Waxwings

Finger Lickin' Good. News of the near annual return of a small flock of Waxwings behind KFC on Dereham Road meant a detoured to my normal route to work. The four birds present seemed quite flightly circling around and only ever settling for a few minutes at a time. I couldn't stay long and as it was still early and the light poor i didn't even try for any photos. The January 'Foot It' challange is coming to an end, so yesterday (29th) I headed out early to try and add to my total of 63 species clocked up after 3 outings. I headed out towards Pigny's Wood hoping to pick up a owl in the early light. No Owls but a Woodcock along the old railway line, a fligh over Great Black-backed Gull and a Reed Bunting took me over my target of 65 species within a 2 mile radius of the house. 66 species wasn't a bad tally from only 4 outings but it could have been so many more, next year i think i'll aim for 75. Red-legged Partridge, Barn Owl, Pied Wagtail, Green Woodpecker and Kingfisher just 5 species i know should be acheivable.

Alive and Birding

November was dominated by moving house so going out bird watching was almost impossible. December was not much better, with an excessivly tweeked Christmas rota meaning that most days i left and returned from work in the dark; and those days I did get off I still failed to see the sun as it was obscured by rain. Things are stating to return to normality, on January 1st Gary and I did our regular 'Bird Race' and I have managed to look over atleast part of the new patch in recent days. We still have not got a regular internet connection, but over the next couple of weeks I will post a 'November/December Review' and an update as to the activities of January.